Action to date since the publication of the skills strategy
The revised aims of the ILA Scotland scheme with reference to the Skills Strategy are:
- Support and encourage wider participation in adult learning, as part of an integrated approach to adult learner support.
- Support increased participation in learning by new and return learners, within wider strategic priorities for learner support.
- Encourage lifetime engagement in learning and support learner progression in learning.
- Encourage and support learners to take ownership of their skills and learning by helping them have increased control and choice over their learning and skills development.
- Prioritise the needs of certain groups of learners, in particular those who are on low pay/have low skills or who are trapped by persistent disadvantage.
- Encourage and support the further development of a quality learning provider base in Scotland.
External evaluation of ILAs published in March 2008 provided extensive stakeholder and learner feedback and demonstrated a strong record of achievement. Building on this strong baseline we made a number of changes to ILA Scotland in summer 2008 aimed at aligning the scheme fully with the aims of our Skills Strategy and improving the targeting of support on harder to reach learners. The changes will direct more ILA funding at low pay low skill employees, including younger workers and people in the workplace with adult literacy and numeracy needs. The changes:
- reduced the minimum age to 16 (from 18);
- removed the requirement for a minimum personal contribution (previously £10);
- widened course eligibility to allow funding for work-related courses and adult literacy and numeracy courses delivered in conjunction with an employer;
- withdrew the ILA100 'universal' offer (non income-assessed, open to all adults);
- restricted funding for pensioners not on low incomes; and
- tightened course eligibility to exclude postgraduate courses.
In January 2009 the Scottish Government announced plans to extend further the range of local and community-based providers able to participate in ILA Scotland, working with HMIE to support quality assurance. In July 2009 the Scottish Government also increased the individual income threshold from £18,000 to £22,000.
Stakeholders
The scheme is currently administered by the Students Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) and Skills Development Scotland (SDS). Further information is available on the ILA website: http://www.ilascotland.org.uk/ILA+Homepage.htm
Future activity
The Scottish Government will continue to monitor learner uptake and learning provider involvement and look at further opportunities to make ILAs more flexible and to increase their reach and impact.